Observations on the evidence contained in the stational reports submitted to her by the Royal Commission on the Sanitary State of the Army in India / by Florence Nightingale.

  • Nightingale, Florence, 1820-1910.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the evidence contained in the stational reports submitted to her by the Royal Commission on the Sanitary State of the Army in India / by Florence Nightingale. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    81/104 (page 73)
    With regard to every appliance of civilised life, the tale is even more absolutely nil than for British troops. There is absolutely no drainage or sewerage, no latrines. And the descriptions of what the surrounding country and bazaars are in consequence are absolutely impossible to repeat. There are no lavatories nor baths. There are no kitchens. There is no sanitary police. At Mangalore, one of the best of the native stations, ' surface cleansing has hitherto been per- ' formed solely by the heavy rains.' At Quilon, another, there is (as usual) no drainage, but ruinous buildings, harbouring the dead carcases of animals, and ' on one occasion, of an old woman.' The water supply is of course as bad as, or worse than, at European stations. At Kherwarrah, in Bengal, the water 'has not ' unfrequently a filthy taste, and disagreeable organic ' smell.' The degree to which native troops almost every- where suffer from guinea worm would alone tell us what the water is. At this same Kherwarrah, one in every six has sufi'ered (for 17 years) from guinea worm. There is no ' conservancy' establishment for cleanliness. At this same large station of Kher- warrah, 'this is left very much to the jackal, 'vulture, and carrion crow' (beyond the lines). There are patrols to prevent nuisances, ' except in 'specified localities.' The lines are kept clean,